Process and apparatus for the washing and after treatment of artificial silk spinning cakes



May 1, I934. J, ENGEL 1,957,328

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE WASHING AND AFTER TREATMENT OF ARTIFICIAL SILK SPINNING CAKES Filed Feb! 8, 1952' 4 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor: I

A. J. ENGEL 1,957,328 I PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE WASHING AND AFTER v TREATMENT OF ARTIFICIAL SILK SPINNING CAKES Filed Feb.

May 1, 1934.

4Sheets-Sheet 2 v /n vemor:

y 1, 1934- A. J. ENGEL ,957,328

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE WASHING AND AFTER TREATMENT OF ARTIFICIAL SILK SPINNING CAKES Filed Feb. 8, 1932 4,Sheets-Sheet 3 //7 ventol M y 1934- A. J ENGEL PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE WASHING AND AFTER TREATMENT OF ARTIFICIAL SILK SPINNING CAKES i Filed Feb. 8. 1932 4 Shets-Sheet' 4 Patented May 1, 1934 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE WASH- ING AND AFTER TREATMENT OF ARTI FICIAL SILK SPINNING CAKES Antonie J acobus Engel, Arnhem, Netherlands, as-

signor, by mesne assignments, to American Enka Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Applicatiorin February 8, 1932, Serial No. 591,731

Germany January 9, 1931 5 Claims.

This invention relates to a-process and an apparatus for the washing and after-treatment of artificial silk spinning cakes and more particularly to that class of apparatus in which the 5 treatment liquid is forced through the cakes from the inside to the outside by pressure.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for the treats ment of free standing cakes which, after removal to from the spinning can, are not supported by any fixed stiffening bodies, either internally or externally, so that the treating fluids can act directly upon the filaments without the interposition of a fixed sleeve bearing on the cake.

Another object of my invention is to prevent the threads from slipping down or floating off during the washing or after-treatment. In order to ensure this, both the top and bottom surfaces of the cakes are contacted by a plane sur-.- face, and in some cases the cakes may even be compressed with a slight pressure between said surfaces.

A further object of my invention is to provide an apparatus which enables in the simplest way the simultaneous treatment of a large number of cakes, several being arranged side by side on plate shaped elements, mounted stage-wise one above the other.

Other objects of my invention will be set forth so in the following description and drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof, it being understood that the above general statement of the objects of my invention is intended merely to generally explain the same and not to limit it in any manner.

The new apparatus is more particularly characterized as an open frame, consisting of an under table, and of a number of horizontal packing plates arranged freely one above another in steps 4.0 between which, for purposes of mutual support, distance pieces are arranged, the height of which is equal to the height of the cake or slightly less. The individual plates are provided with uniformly distributed perforations, which are 10- cated one above another and which are intended to permit the passage of the treatment liquids to the interior of the spinning cakes at each stage or step. Between the individual packing plates, which may be wholly or partially covered or coated with textile fabric, the spinning cakes are placed in each stage, there being as many spinning cakes side by side as there are perforations in the plates the arrangement being such that the perforations are connected with the interiors of the spinning cakes. In each stage there is only one layer of cakes, but, in consequence of the number of stages, there is a series of cakes located one above another, so that a large number of columns of cakes can be simultaneously treated.

The uppermost cover plate is preferably loaded, in order that the liquid pressure may not be able to lift it. The treatment liquid is preferably supplied through the holes in the lower plate. The uppermost cover plate has no perforations at all. The perforations in the lowest plate may, in this case, be formed as the actual supply nozzles for the treatment liquid, or must at least be in communication with the supply passages for the liquid. The individual sealing plates are provided on the outer margins with protective screens, which may be removable, in order that the liquid may not be able to run off or to splash off. Furthermore the plates are also provided at their edges with downwardly directed inclined flanges so that thetreatment liquid can run down freely at the desired points, but without passing to the cakes of the lower stages.

The distance pieces between the plates may be of fundamentally difierent shapes and do not absolutely need to be arranged in the interior of the spinning cakes, as shown. They may be located outside the cakes and may be constructed as tubes or as plates parallel to the protective screens. According to an illustrated form of the invention they are in the form of perforated tubular elements the diameter .of which is smaller than the diameter of the cakes, and which are arranged round the holes in theplates, so that after the apparatus is assembled, continuous perforated tubes extend through the columns of the cakes.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1, is a side elevation of the novel device, partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the piping carrying the liquid.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line III-ID: of Fig. 2.

r Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line IVIV of Fig. 2.

' Fig. 5 is a sectional view of an embodiment somewhat modified, of the parts intended for treating a pile of cakes.

Fig. 6 shows a detail of the device illustrated by Fig. '7 finally represents in section another embodiment of the device intended for-treating a pile of cakes.

The device comprises a base plate 2 mounted on a wheeled frame 1 which, if necessary, may be 110 B. uid and connected in turn to a common distributing pipe 6 which is branched ofl a main pipe 7 fed through the branch 8 with the said liquid (Fig. 2). n the base plate 2 is laid a packing plate 9, and on the latter is laid the base plate 2 is traveling, preferably the whole pile is held toa plate 10 both plates being provided with orifices 11 in communication with the orifices 4 in the base plate 2. This plate 10 has flanges 12 at its edges to form drip plates for the treatin liquid. Onthe plate 10 the cakes 14 are placed in a number exactly corresponding to the number of feeding orifices 4 and in such a way that the central hole of each cake registers with the corresponding orifice 4;. On the first set of cakes is laid another plate 15 which isshaped exactly the same as the undermost plate 10, viz, is provided with orifices 16 matching the inlet orifices d of the base plate 2 and with drip flanges 12. This plate 15 is intended for packing thetop face of the cakes. Its distance from the lower plate 10 should therefore be so chosen that at the most it corresponds to the height oi. the cakes but it may also be slightly less in order that the cakes may be slightly compressed to hold them in place and make tight joints between the plates and the cakes. On this intermediate plate 15 a further layer of cakes may be placed in the same manner as on the lower plate 10 and so on. In this way several sets of cakes can be placed above one another, for instance five. The whole is closed on top by a cover plate 17. I

The distance of the plates 15 from each other, and between plate 10 and the lowermost plate 15, is determined by spacers 18, w ich may consist of a single piece or be combined of several portions (Fig. 1). For instance in Figs. 5 and 6, the four corners of the plates are shown as supported by spacers 18, which may be secured to the perforated plates 15 of each stage, so that, when mounting the perforated plates, the spacers are also mounted at the same time. The base plate 2 is providedwith drain flanges so at its edges, see Fig. i.

In order that the cake layers may be prevented from becoming displaced when the whole device gether by a clamping device 21 which, as Fig. 5

shows, comprises a vertical standard 22 to which is pivoted by means of a hinge 23 the connecting lever 2d. By means of the rock bar 25 the free end of the said lever 24 is locked in such a way that the free end thereof is imparted a downward pull. Accordingly the cover. plate 17 exerts'a pressure upon the spacer, by being pressed itself by means of the adjustable spindles 26, so that the plates 15 with the cakes placed thereon are no more allowed to displace.

6 shows a special design of the spacers, each having a head 27 and a foot 28 which are fastened to the columns by means of the screws 29 and 30, respectively. Between the head and foot, respectively, and the spacer may be inserted a washer 31. At its bottom surface the foot 28 is of convex shape and engages with a corresponding concave surfacev on top of the head 27 which arrangement facilitates the plates 15b eingproperlyplaced upon each other. The

plates 15 as well'as the columns 18, the heads 2'! and the feet 28 of the spacers may be provided with a coating 32 which is resistive to the action of the chemicals used for the treatment.

In the case of the embodiment shown by Fig. '7 the spacer columns 18 have been replaced by internal spacers 33 having the shape of perforated tubes placed within the cakes 14, the outer diameter of the tubes being smaller than the inner diameter of the cakes.

The apparatus. is usedand operated in the following manner:-

Upon the table top 2 are located at all times the sealing plate 9 and the first perforated plate 10. Then the cakes 14 of the first stage or layer are put on, and then the second perforated plate- 15 with the spacers 18. Thereupon the succeeding stages are placed in position in a similar manner one after the other, and are finally loaded by the cover plate.

The arrangement above described results in the formation of columns of cakes superposed to which the liquid is fed as follows. The treating liquid enters through the inlet branch 8, which be a fiexible metallic pipe or the like, and connects the whole device to the stationary piping. From the inlet branch 8 the liquid flows t into the pipe 7 from which it is led to the several distributing pipes 6 and subsequently through the inlet pipes 5 to the columns of cakes. The liquid percolate's through the walls of the cakes and runs oil over the flanges 12. The guards l3 prevent the liquid used of one layer of cakes from getting into contact with the cakes of the lower. The liquid is collected by thebase plate 2 from which it runs off through the outlets 20.

Through these outlets the liquid fiows into pits ary piping concerned. 1

The apparatus may be used for the washing, removal of sulphur, bleaching, removal of acid, reviving, and any other wet-treatment operations, to which it is desired to subject the cakes.

The apparatus may also serve for the drying or partial drying of the washed spinning cakes, hot air being admitted to the apparatus and passed through the cakes in the same manner as the abovementioned liquids. I When all the wet-treatment operations, and also the treatment with dry air if adopted, are

completed, the apparatus is taken to pieces in the reverse direction, begipning from the top.

It is also possible to put the spinning cakes onthe usual transport boards at suitable distances. In this case the plate 10 is laid on the spinning cakes upside down, and the transport board and the plate 10 are turned over together, whereupon, after removal of the transport board, the' plate 10 thus charged with spinning cakes is taken to the washing apparatus.

I claim: 1. Apparatus for the after-treatment of artificial silk spinning cakes and the like, comprising a hollow base having a plurality of holesin its top, a plurality of packing plates each having holes spaced to 'aline with said base holes, spacer elements carrie'd'by each plate, each element having a foot piece with a convex bottom and a head piece with a concave top, convex bottom and concave top having bearing contact, and means to force liquid into said base.

2. Apparatus for the after-treatment of artificial silk spinning cakes and the like, comprising a hollow base having a plurality of holes in its top, a packing plate, having apertures corresponding to said holes, laid on said top, a plurality 1 similar plates adapted to rest on one layer of cakes and to support another layer, spacer elements of a' length between adjacent plates that space them apart-a distance no greater than assures contact with the tops of the cakes of a layer of the packing plate immediately above such layer, a solid plate to rest on the uppermost layer of cakes, means to clamp said solid plate to said base, the cakes being ring-form and both'within and outside the cakes free uninterrupted spaces extend from one plate to another whereby free flow of treating fluid may take place through the cakes from within to the outside thereof from top to bottom, and means to introduce the treatment liquid into said baseand into the cake interiors and to cause its flow outward through the cakes to the exterior thereof.

3. Apparatus for the after-treatment of artificial silk spinning cakes and the like, comprising a base, means supporting ring-form cakes in a plurality of laterally spaced apart columns that expose the interior periphery of the rings to direct access of treating liquid from end to end and with a cake at one end of each column at the base comprising spacer plates interposed between the ends of adjacent cakes and each plate'having,

laterally spaced holes in communication with the interior of the cake rings, whereby theremay be a continuous flow of treating liquid through the interior of all of the cake rings, a cover closing the interior of the cake furthest from the base, means holding said cover and said plates at fixed distances apart, such distances being the distance between bottom and top of a ring whereby cumulative effect of load upon successively lower and lower-cakes is avoided, and means for supplying treating liquid under pressure to the interior of the cake ring next the base, there being a space around each column of cakes into which the treating liquid passes.

4. Apparatus for the after-treatment of artiflcial silk spinning cakes and the like with holes comprising a base having a plurality of laterally spaced holes, a plurality of cake-spacing plates having each a plurality of laterally spaced holes situated to communicate with the cake interiors and with the base holes the plate having immediately adjacent the holes therein a flat surface for supporting contact with the flat bottom end of a cake, a cover plate on the cakes opposite the base, means holding said plates at fixed distances apart, such distances being the distance between bottom andtop of a ring whereby cumulative effect of load upon successively lower and lower cakes is avoided and means to supply fluid under pressure through the holes of said base into the cake thereat, a liquid receiving space being present around the cakes.

5. A process for after-treating artificial silk' spinning cakes of ring-form which includes the acts of placing upon a horizontally extended supporting surface a plurality of cakes in side by side relation but with spaces between adjacent cakes, thering -form cakes being placed with their bottom ends resting incontact with such surface and with the interior of the cakes in line with openings in the supporting surface for the up-flow of liquid, the entire interior of the rings being open for the flow of the treating liquid into contact with the upper ends of the cakes belowit to prevent cross flow of liquid which would disturb'the threads at the upper ends of the cakes,- covering the upper ends of the uppermost group of cakes and causing the flow of a liquid through the openings of the lowermost supporting surface and into and through the superimposed cakes in succession and laterally through the cake walls, the only surfaces of the cakesin contact with a liquid-impervious body being the bottoms and ,tops of the cakes, the cakes being arranged in vertical columns with spaces between adjacent columns.

' ANTONIE JACOBUS ENGEL. 

